The art and cultural continuum of urban Aboriginal agriculture

Relational growing: The art and cultural continuum of urban Aboriginal agriculture

Dominique Chen (PhD candidate)

Australian urban environments have a long and deep-seated colonial history as sites of marginalisation, control and assimilation of Aboriginal peoples—a legacy of disenfranchisement closely aligned with the theft of traditional lands and the erasure of traditional food systems and ecologies. Despite approximately 81% of Australia’s Indigenous population living in metropolitan, urban environments—on the unceded lands of various Indigenous nations, they remain both physically and ideologically colonised spaces that provide significant challenges for the re-emplacement of autonomous, grass roots, cultural food growing systems and practices.

While the scope and sophistication of Australian Aboriginal food-growing knowledges and practices have recently received widespread attention and application within rural, remote and commercialised settings, little consideration has been given to their application within the everyday, urban lives of Aboriginal people. Within this context, there has been even less exploration as to the relational creative practices that are foundational in activating, strengthening and understanding Aboriginal food-growing, by and for Aboriginal people.

Using a participatory and creative, relational methodology informed by Gamilaroi cultural ontology—that is, culturally-informed ways of knowing, being and doing, the research will give context and awareness to contemporary expressions and or applications of Aboriginal food-related knowledges and practices within three main areas: backyard or personal environments; shared environments such as community gardens or commons; and other spaces of exchange such as social media groups or initiatives.

Through the explorations of these spaces, this research will consider the ways in which cultural food growing knowledges and practices are and can be expressed within the ideologically and physically colonised spaces of the urban. It will also look to the unique potential of a creative relational practice to disrupt, defy and or navigate colonial hegemonies, and create opportunities for cultural exchange and renewal, place-based connection, and the development of resistant and supportive Aboriginal food-growing communities.

Meet the researcher

Dominique Chen is a Gamilaroi yinnar, and interdisciplinary, arts-based researcher living on Jinibara Country in South East Queensland. She currently lectures at Griffith University (Queensland College of Art) within the Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art program, and has taught into the Indigenous Studies Major at The University of Queensland. Dominique is mother, artist and avid gardener, and is passionate about the role of creative practice in making positive contributions to community, culture and Country.

Supervisors: Associate Professor Ilaria Vanni, Associate Professor Jason De Santolo, Professor Tracey Bunda (UQ)

Contact: dominique.a.chen@student.uts.edu.au